Apparatus and methods for connecting and disconnecting electrical circuits underwater

ABSTRACT

Structure is disclosed for assembling connectors under sea water or in other hostile environments and isolating the junction from the surrounding water. A flexible barrier portion is fitted to envelop the junction, and any water inside the barrier is purged by the flow of a fluid such as a liquid, air or gas therethrough. The barrier portion is then filled with waterproof substance such as silicone grease. To disconnect, the grease is forced into the flexible barrier to push the connectors apart thereby surrounding each portion with an enveloping waterproof body when the barrier is severed between the connectors.

United States Patent mi 3,585,567 I [72] Inventor Delbert R. Wofford[56] References Cmd P-o- BOX |160, Owensboro. Ky. 42307 FOREIGN PATENTSam' No' it??? 1969 53,2is io/i942 Netherlands 339/1 i i [45] PatentedJune l5, 1971 Pn'mary Examiner-Marvin A Champion AssistantExaminer-Terrell P. Lewis Attorney-Laurence RA Brown ABSTRACT: Structureis disclosed for assembling connectors [54] under sea water or in otherhostile environments and isolating UNDERWATER the `-iunction from thesurrounding water` A flexible b arrieil 8 Claimsn Drawing Figs portionis fitted to envelop the `lunction, and any water inside the barrier ispurged by the flow of a fluid such as a liquid, air

[52] U.S.CI 339/45, or gas therethrough. The barrier portion is thenlled with 339/75 waterproof substance such as silicone grease. Todisconnect,

[S1] Int. Cl ..H0lrl3/54, the grease is forced into the flexible barrierto push the con- HOlr 13/62 nectors apart thereby surrounding eachportion with an en- [50] Field of Search 339/45, 75, veloping waterproofbody when the barrier is severed between 94, 11S-117, 213; ZOO/8l theconnectors.

PATENTEDJUNISIQYI 35854567 sum 1 UF 2 El HG2 3| n n M22 ,V i i INVENTORDU HHT R. WOFFORD ATTOR NIE Y PATENEUJUNlSIQYl 3,585,557

SHEET 2 0F 2 I FIGA INVENTOR DFLBCHT Ff. "//OFFOPI'J BY (Y.) @www1ATTORNEY APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTINGELECTRICAL CIRCUITS UNDERWATER This invention relates to means andmethods for connecting and disconnecting electrical circuits underwater.

In my copending application, now abandoned, Ser. No. 773,048, filed Nov.4, 1968, for which the present application is a continuation-in-partthere is disclosed apparatus comprising two interfitting electricalconnector plug-receptacle structures wherein each connector has itscontact surfaces covered with a waterproof barrier of silicone grease orthe like, so that the two connectors may be electrically connectedunderwater without permitting salt water to enter the junction areabetween the connectors or to come into electrical contact with theconnector conductors. However, this connector structure had no provisionfor disconnecting underwater while keeping the two connectors isolatedfrom salt water.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide means andmethods of disconnecting electrical circuits underwater without exposingthe electrically conductive surfaces to salt water.

Therefore, in accordance with this invention, a pair of interfittingelectrical connectors has an elastic barrier member surrounding thejunction between the plugs to serve as a receptacle for a waterproofinsulating substance such as silicone grease. By confining the barriermember within a rigid cylindrical tubing, the two connectors may bedisconnected by forcing between them a charge of the waterproofsubstance, and the elastic member then can be ruptured to keep eachconnector isolated from the water or other surrounding atmosphere by theinterspersed waterproof insulating substance.

The foregoing, and further objectives and features of the invention, areset forth in the following more detailed description of the invention,which refers to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. l is a schematic elevation representation, partly in section of twointerfitted connectors adapted to be disconnected underwater;

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevation representation, partly in section of twointerfitted connectors in connected position surrounded by a rigidcylindrical member;

FIG. 3 is a view as shown in FIG. 2 wherein a waterproofinsulatingsubstance is located in the junction region between the plugs;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view as shown in FIG. 3 wherein the insulatingsubstance is forced between the connectors to push them apart, and

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate further steps in the separation of twoconnectors as shown in FIG. 3 with the electrical contact surfacesenveloped in waterproof insulating substance to prevent damage orelectrical shorts when the connectors are disconnected underwater.

Details of plug-connector structure suitable for underwater connectionare shown in the above identified copending application. Thus twoconnectors 10, l1 are coupled by watertight connection to correspondingelectrical cables l2, 13, and are mated at a junction 14 so thatinternal electrical conductor terminals 15, 16 are in conductivecontact. The connectors may be brought together underwater withoutexposing the conductors to salt water by means of enveloping them with asilicone grease or other insulating waterproof body which may ooze outbetween tlfe junction 14 as shown at 17 in FIG. 2 when the connectorsare mated.

In connection with the present invention, a barrier member 18 which isexpandible or made of elastic material such as rubber, surrounds thejunction 14 and contacts each connector l0, l1 at respective ridges 19,20. Cylindrical clamps 2l, 22 may be used to hold the barrier member 18in place to provide a watertight seal. The elastic barrier member 18 maybe installed under water and for that purpose is threaded upon a cable12 or 13 before mating connectors l0, l1. If so there may be somemoisture inside the compartment 23, and this may be removed if valves24, 25 are opened and air is passed through tubes 26, 27 to purge thecompartment.

Mounted on at least one connector is an inlet valve 28 through which theinsulating substance may be passed into the interior of the connectorsto exit at the junction 14 between the plugs, as by means of a connectedgrease fitting 29, or the like, shown in FIG. 2.

A rigid cylindrical cover 30 passed over clamps 21, 22 confines thebarrier 18 within a predetermined limited zone 3l when additionalinsulation material 17 is passed through fitting 29 as shown in FIG. 3,where the elastic barrier 18 is expanded to fill the zone 31 andconnector cover 30.

Further pressure of the insulating substance will tend to disconnect theplugs by separating at junction 14 as shown in FIG. 4. This permits therigid cylindrical cover 30 to be removed so that the flexible barrier 18can be shaped and ruptured as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to permit isolationof plugs l0 and 1l under water with connector surfaces 15 and 16enveloped in the insulation substance and totally insulated from thewater.

Accordingly there is disclosed herein apparatus for and methods ofdisconnecting electrical connectors underwater without exposingelectrical terminals to the corrosive or conductive Contact with saltwater.

What l claim is:

l. Electrical connector structure for disconnection in a hostileenvironment comprising in combination, two interfitting connectormembers with electrically conducting contact surfaces for makingelectrical connections at a junction therebetween, a common flexiblediaphragm member adapted to encompass said junction, coupling means forfitting to each connector said common diaphragm member to surround saidjunction, pliable environment insulating barrier substance held by saidcoupling means inside said common diaphragm to surround eachinterfitting connector member and the junction between said two memberswhen interfitted, means supplying a flow of said pliable insulatingsubstance between said connector members when they are disconnected andmoved apart thereby to cover said contact surfaces and isolate thejunction from the environment, and structure permitting said commondiaphragm member to be separated to encompass each of said connectormembers and a portion of said pliable substance therearound separately.

2. Structure defined in claim 1 including means for confining saidflexible diaphragm into a predetermined area surrounding the junctionbetween said members.

3. Structure defined in claim 1 including valve means for introducing anenvironmentproof substance into the region inside said barrier means.

4. The method of making and breaking electrical circuits between twointerfitting electrical connectors having electrically conductivesurfaces meeting in an interface junction isolated from the surroundingenvironment, comprising the steps of:

a. coupling the two interfitting electrical connectors together whileimmersed in the surrounding environment, surrounding the interfacebetween the connectors with a pliable environmentproof insulatingbarrier substance, and

c. decoupling the two interfitting electrical connectors while retainingthe pliable substance in surrounding contact with the electricallyconductive surfaces of each connector to electrically isolate theelectrical circuits from the surrounding environment.

5. The method defined in claim 4 including the step of introducing apliable environmentproof substance about the electrically conductivesurfaces of both connectors.

6. The method defined in claim 4 including the step of purging theregion inside said barrier member by passing a fluid nonconductivesubstance therethrough.

7. The method defined in claim 5 including the step of introducing saidenvironmentproof substance inside said barrier member after it isinstalled.

b. surrounding the interface between the connectors with anenvironmentproof barrier member, and c. forcing environmentproofsubstance between the connectors inside said member with enough pressureto force apart the connectors for decoupling.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION June 15, 1971Patent No. 3 585 567 Dated Inventor(s) Delbert R. Wofford It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet insert [73} Assignee Texas Gas TransmissionCorporation, Owensboro, Ky.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of May 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. PLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Commissioner of PatentsAttesting Officer FORM IDO-1050 (10-69) uscoMMDc eo31e-psa KLS.GDVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE z |969 0-365-334

1. Electrical connector structure for disconnection in a hostileenvironment comprising in combination, two interfitting connectormembers with electrically conducting contact surfaces for makingelectrical connections at a junction therebetween, a common flexiblediaphragm member adapted to encompass said junction, coupling means forfitting to each connector said common diaphragm member to surround saidjunction, pliable environment insulating barrier substance held by saidcoupling means inside said common diaphragm to surround eachinterfitting connector member and the junction between said two memberswhen interfitted, means supplying a flow of said pliable insulatingsubstance between said connector members when they are disconnected andmoved apart thereby to cover said contact surfaces and isolate thejunction from the environment, and structure permitting said commondiaphragm member to be separated to encompass each of said connectormembers and a portion of said pliable substance therearound separately.2. Structure defined in claim 1 including means for confining saidflexible diaphragm into a predetermined area surrounding the junctionbetween said members.
 3. Structure defined in claim 1 including valvemeans for introducing an environmentproof substance into the regioninside said barrier means.
 4. The method of making and breakingelectrical circuits between two interfitting electrical connectorshaving electrically conductive surfaces meeting in an interface junctionisolated from the surrounding environment, comprising the steps of: a.coupling the two interfitting electrical connectors together whileimmersed in the surrounding environment, b. surrounding the interfacebetween the coNnectors with a pliable environmentproof insulatingbarrier substance, and c. decoupling the two interfitting electricalconnectors while retaining the pliable substance in surrounding contactwith the electrically conductive surfaces of each connector toelectrically isolate the electrical circuits from the surroundingenvironment.
 5. The method defined in claim 4 including the step ofintroducing a pliable environmentproof substance about the electricallyconductive surfaces of both connectors.
 6. The method defined in claim 4including the step of purging the region inside said barrier member bypassing a fluid nonconductive substance therethrough.
 7. The methoddefined in claim 5 including the step of introducing saidenvironmentproof substance inside said barrier member after it isinstalled.
 8. The method of making and breaking electrical circuitsbetween two interfitting electrical connectors having electricallyconductive surface meeting in an interface junction isolated from thesurrounding environment, comprising the steps of: a. coupling the twointerfitting electrical connectors together while immersed in thesurrounding environment, b. surrounding the interface between theconnectors with an environmentproof barrier member, and c. forcingenvironmentproof substance between the connectors inside said memberwith enough pressure to force apart the connectors for decoupling.